Even in her layers, Lisa couldn't get warm. It was bound to be just an all-around cold day. She could smell Jack's fire and was already looking forward to sitting in front of it. The soup she'd suggested would be perfect. As she finished getting ready for the day, she picked up her once again, empty coffee cup and decided another cup was in order. It was going to be a long day. As much as she wanted to maybe hide out in the bedroom, it was time to just push forward. She took a look around; the room was picked up, and with that, she took her coffee cup and started to the door. She found Jack in the living room tending to the fire and walked over to him before getting that cup of coffee.
"Really looking forward to that fire," she said, dressed in jeans, a long sleeve shirt, and cardigan over it, putting her arm around his shoulder as she stood there, trying to get warm. She moved and pulled her sweater tight, "Just can't get warm." He looked up with a sympathetic smile and nod at her.
"Stay away from the doors. The wind is a killer today. It goes right through you. As much as you're looking forward to this fire going, I'm looking forward to your soup later."
Lisa smiled at him, reaching to squeeze his shoulder as he sat in front of the fire, working on it. She gestured with her coffee cup, "Want a refill?"
He thought about it, but then nodded, gesturing to the side table, "Actually, yes. That sounds good." She gave a nod, scooped up his cup, and she made her way to the kitchen. Lou didn't appear to be anywhere in sight, which was just fine for the moment. She let out a sigh, one that she hoped wasn't too loud, when she stepped up to the coffee pot but spotted Tim at the table, of course, now with the paper, coffee, and some of that blueberry bread.
"Morning, Tim," she said to him, just biting the bullet to get this out of the way. She really hoped he didn't start with the comments this morning. She was already planning to have a chat with Lou, and she wasn't up for Tim's antics. He glanced over, unaware she'd walked into the kitchen and started to chuckle.
"Now, I know why Lou was in a huffy mood when I came in here earlier," he nodded now laughing. "I hadn't heard you were here, but it should have clicked when first Jack put the chores on me and then when Lou was convinced Jack was dead in your bedroom." Tim stuffed a piece of bread into his mouth, still laughing as he did so. Lisa tried to hold back her horrified look, watching him laugh with food falling out of his mouth.
"Hmm, yes, well, you know when they say three's a crowd?" Lisa turned now, with both cups in hand and smirked at Tim, "I'm very well aware Lou was worried something had happened to Jack. She came bursting into the bedroom earlier."
Tim doubled over, trying to hold back his laughter, "No! Oh, please don't give me a visual."
Lisa sighed, loudly this time, and shook her head with a snarl at Tim, "We were drinking coffee and reading the paper, not that it's anyone's business, but she was clearly shocked to find me there. Let's address the real problem that she doesn't seem to grant boundaries to other adults but wants them for herself."
"Yeah, well, I guess she figured out pretty quickly who was invited to the slumber party."
Lisa shook her head and turned to leave with the coffee. She returned to the living room and handed Jack his cup, "A little heads up," she hooked her hand to the kitchen, "would have been nice."
He made a face, "Lou wasn't there, but Tim," he shrugged, "you and I both know he's always here. Sorry, though. I hope he wasn't crude," Jack groaned.
"No," she waved her hand and moved to sit there on the hearth too. She warmed her hands, and both enjoyed the warmth the fireplace was throwing out.
"Lou," Lisa called to her as she walked through the living room looking like she was on a mission with a load of laundry. Lou paused and glanced to Lisa and Jack, giving a slight wave.
"Can we not discuss this more?" Lou asked.
"Lou, please come here," Jack asked her, but it was clear to Lisa, at least, his tone was one of telling Lou not asking. Lou, for her own good, picked up on that too and put the basket on the table and made her way to sit in Jack's side chair. She folded her hands in her lap, looking down at the floor.
"Look you two, sorry about earlier. Lisa, you car isn't here, and I had no idea you were, but-"
"Stop, Lou, please," Lisa cut in, eyeing her. She shook her head at Lou, "I don't want to discuss this morning. It's been discussed or I should say, we aren't discussing it. Jack and I both want to speak to you."
"Lou," Jack nodded in agreement and started, "whatever this is, this hovering over me has to stop. It was terrible right after my heart attack, and I thought we were through that, but it's gotten much worse again."
"And that goes along with me," Lisa interjected, gesturing at Lou. "You started in on me the moment I walked back in the door to this family. What is the problem? You know me. I don't want to beat around the bush. I want to get to the bottom of this now."
Lou, clearly surprised by the direct approach from both of them, looked from Jack to Lisa and back to Jack. She fidgeted with her hands and shook her head, finally sighing before she spoke.
"You want to know my problem?" Lou asked, but continued as if it wasn't actually a question. She pointed between the two of them, "It's this, it's you guys. I mean, I'm worried. Lisa," she made eye contact with her, "you and I have our ups and downs."
"Yes, we do, but Lou," she frowned, "I've always been there for you. Our big disagreements over the years have been about the two of us usually wanting the same thing but both going about it in grand ways that irritate the other. I've done nothing to irritate you, this time at least, but I'm getting the cold shoulder at every turn. I've always been willing to do anything for you." She waved her hand to the table, "What was that at dinner a couple weeks ago, wanting to change seats? What's with all the comments about me, about being a guest and all? I've known you a long time, and you've never acted like that with me. Honestly, with the revolving door of actual guests at the table, I've been a constant, even before you dad was welcome back at the table. You know I love your grandfather. So, what is the problem?"
"Fine!" Lou threw up her hands and looked at the two of them as she continued, "Grandpa, I don't want you to get hurt, for your heart to get broken again because that's what I see." Lisa and Jack glanced at each other, and Lou continued, turning her attention to Lisa. "Lisa, I was so disappointed when you just left Grandpa. You just left, and no, I don't know you love him, not at all anymore! You don't leave someone you love!" Lou was visibly irritated now, and Lisa could see Tim had walked into the room and was standing by the table now out of the corner of her eye. Lou continued her rant, "Who does that to someone when they have had a heart attack? You came back from France, were barely here, and then, you just left. You want to talk commitment? That's not it, and you left Grandpa here a mess. It wasn't fun. We all had to deal with him," she admitted as she looked at Jack and nodded. "Grandpa, I don't understand how you just get back together with Lisa, after she just abandoned you. You deserve better than that."
"Now hold on," Jack held up his hand, and that had Lou pause.
"Lou," Lisa added, "you don't know what you are talking about, and quite frankly, it's none of your business."
"I think it is my business when it affects Grandpa."
"It's not, Lou," Jack added, nodding. "It's my business, mine and Lisa's, not yours. I'm a grown man, your grandfather, as I apparently need to remind you. You are not my caretaker."
"Yeah," she gestured at Lisa, "well, she wasn't either."
"Because I tried!" Lisa exclaimed and dropped her head as she sighed. "Is that what this is all about? You think Jack needs someone to watch over him because in your opinion, I'm the problem, that I abandoned him?"
"I was here," Lou pointed to the house, looking at Lisa and then at Jack. "I saw what it did to him when you left. You say you love Grandpa, that you have for years, but you just left him. You don't just abandon someone you claim to love, and over France? Your precious France meant more to you than Grandpa. That, Lisa, is my problem."
Lisa pursed her lips and nodded, glancing to Jack and then to Lou, "So, tell me, Lou, when I went back to France, how did it work out for you, you taking care of Jack?"
She gave Lisa an odd look and shook her head, "What do you mean? Grandpa wouldn't let me take care of him. He left for Arizona shortly after you left, and again, you chose France over that, over going to Arizona with Grandpa. We knew you were supposed to go with him, but what, Arizona and Grandpa weren't good enough for you? You broke his heart. We all saw it. He was miserable."
"She didn't choose France!" Jack exclaimed, and he turned his head, dropping it to regroup. He glanced at Lisa, both irritated to have to go through their private matters with Lou. He glanced at Lisa, and she put her hand on his there on the stone of the hearth and while with her hand there, turned back to Lou.
"Jack went to Arizona alone because that's what he wanted. I went back to France because he told me to leave."
"What?" Lou interrupted Lisa, and Lisa frowned at her and continued.
"You don't know what you are talking about, and that now has created this mess, Lou. The fact you are meddling in Jack's affairs is one problem. What you think you know just isn't true. I wanted to be here. I wanted to help Jack, to take care of him, but that's not what he wanted. I left because I was not wanted here and that is that. I spent a miserable few months in France and came back here to close out this chapter of my life for good. Fortunately," she said, looking to Jack with a small smile and nod, "we figured things out."
"Thank goodness," Tim called out, and all heads turned to him. He was there, eating more of the blueberry bread and gestured with it as he spoke, "Lou, come on," he shook his head. "You weren't here, but those two were miserable. Anyone could see it. You better be thanking your stars that your dad here, I got them back together."
"You didn't get us back together, Tim," Jack muttered, but then he turned his attention to Lou and pointed at her while he began speaking
"I really, really don't like people in my personal business. You have known that your entire life. Lisa has been the only woman in my life since your grandmother, and I can't believe you would think you need to run interference for me or be some sort of watchdog. I do just fine on my own, except when I'm being an idiot, but I finally got that mess cleared up. This hovering over me, expecting my life to implode, either by a heart attack or some made up future disaster with Lisa needs to stop. I don't do that to you. I've made it clear I'm always here for you, but it is not my business to get into your life, and it's definitely not yours to be in mine. You do need to treat Lisa with respect. She's always given it to you, and she's done nothing to you. The fact that you feel that you should harbor this, this," he waved his hand, "animosity is ridiculous."
"Lou, life is short," Lisa added, speaking again. "Jack and I know that; the heart attack put that front and center. None of us are promised tomorrow, and Jack and I are trying to embrace that, to enjoy each and every day. He was the best thing to come into my life over seven years ago. I think back and am so glad I gave Amy a chance with my horse because otherwise," she shook her head, "I wouldn't have met Jack or any of you. It's funny how one decision can shape everything and taking a chance on a 15-year-old girl who had just lost her mother but wanted to work with my high-end horse gave me a future I never imagined, and I'd like to think, gave all of you something too. I love all of you like you are my own. It killed me to leave here and go back to France, to leave Jack and to leave this wonderful family, everyday annoyances and all. I appreciate that this family goes to bat for one another all the time. It's one of the qualities that makes this family so strong and dynamic. There is a fine line, though, between support and meddling. That line has been crossed. You have crossed it in your actions and your opinions of me, of us."
"Lou," Jack said and waited for her to meet his gaze. He gestured now with his hand toward Lisa, "You know I don't speak about my personal life."
"That's an understatement, apparently," she muttered, but then held up her hand to apologize for interrupting.
"So, when I sit here and tell you that I love this woman, and she makes me very happy, you'd better understand that and leave it at that. We are doing just fine on our own, figuring out our lives."
"Lou," Lisa added, "don't project insecurities you might be feeling with Peter onto Jack and myself. We don't ask you about your personal life, so please stay out of ours."
"Oh, that's good advice," Tim called out, gesturing from the table. He was still chewing, but nodding. "Lou, you do that and always have. That husband of yours isn't here. Don't act like Jack and Lisa have the same type of relationship."
Lisa grimaced as she glanced at Jack, but then nodded, "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I agree with Tim. None of us here are asking you about things in your own life. We are all here happy to listen and offer advice. Neither Jack nor I asked for or want any advice. We want to be afforded the respect and privacy we give to all of you."
Lou listened and nodded, pursing her lips as she looked to Lisa and Jack, "Look," she waved her hands, "I am sorry if you think that-"
"Lou," Lisa said sternly and frowned. "Any apology that starts with 'if you feel' isn't really an apology, but it's an excuse for your own behavior."
"You're right," she sighed. "I'm sorry for inferring things and for jumping to conclusions. I'm sorry for hovering, Grandpa, and Lisa, for assuming you just left. If you could just see it from my side-"
"You aren't on a side here, Lou," Jack told her. "You've done that your whole life, tried to convince people of things as you want them. Frankly," he frowned and reached to squeeze Lisa's hand again, "I was being an idiot. I shut down and told Lisa to go. I'm glad she came back and gave me another chance. I'm not messing it up. That is your story, the end of the story, and we need to let it rest. I expect the animosity to go away, and I expect things to return to normal. Nothing has changed for you. Lisa's here, not a guest at the table, and that is all you need to focus on. She is a wonderful godmother to Katie, and you need to recognize that because she's one special lady. Do not project what you think onto a situation that is not. Are we clear?"
"Yes," she frowned, glancing down. "Look, I'm sorry. Clearly, I was off base."
"Yes, you were and look at the turmoil that caused these last few weeks," Lisa nodded in agreement. "Lou, as I said about this family, though, at the end of the day, disagreements and all, this family always remembers that the people here are what count. Please put this behind you. I want to, and I just want to move forward."
"Okay," she said quietly with a shake of her head. She stood and gestured, "I'm going to check on Katie."
"You do that," Lisa nodded. "I'm going to make soup later for the family. Hopefully, with as rough of a day as it is outside, we can have a calm, relaxing day inside. I think that would be a good thing to work toward today, yes?"
"Yes, sure, you're right," she nodded. "Thank you for making soup for the house."
"My pleasure," Lisa shook her head at her.
"Lou," Jack stood and tilted his head at her, "as far as Lisa and I here-"
She waved her hands, "You don't need to talk about this again."
"I do," he nodded, disagreeing with her and giving a nod to Lisa, "she's going to be here. She's not some visitor; we've established that. I don't expect any comments, questions, or problems with her here, day or night, do I make myself clear?"
"Day or night," they all heard Tim chuckle from the table. Lisa shot daggers his way with her glance but looked back to Lou to see Lou nodding at Jack's statement.
"Understood, and this morning, it won't happen again."
"See that it doesn't," Jack said with a nod. He turned back to Lisa, and she lowed her head, meeting his gaze and gave him an encouraging nod.
"Lisa," Jack asked her, and she looked to and smiled at him, "I'll be happy to help you start on that soup if you like. Let's see if we can get this day back on track."
"I'd like that," Lisa said with a glance to Jack and then giving Lou a nod as she spoke. "Soup should help take the edge off of today. Let's see if we can all reset and move forward, Lou," Lisa eyed her, "maybe after lunch you and I can sit down and talk about your book tour. I haven't heard about it and would enjoy that. We used to get along pretty well, at least after we admitted that family working together on the dude ranch wasn't the best idea."
Lou, glancing down, smiled at that and nodded. She looked up at Lisa, "Well, the book tour was a complete disaster, but thank you for the offer. I'd like to talk, though, I mean, after lunch. I'm sure we can come up with something. With Amy not here, it's been a little lonely."
"And a little crazy," Tim added, gesturing to his daughter. "You and Amy balance each other with all the talking. Take Lisa up on a talk today, Lou. The way I see it, if you are busy with Lisa, Jack isn't, and we would all appreciate that."
"Tim, I believe if the chores are done, you know the way home," Jack put his hands on his hips and turned to Tim. "Now, am I going to have to send you on your way, or can you keep your own personal opinions to yourself? I believe we just clarified plenty and let this be a clarification for the entire room, that Lisa's and my personal life is not going to be up for discussion or comment."
"Tough crowd," Tim smirked. "I'm going to check on Georgie on that note because Amy seems to be rubbing off on her. She was convinced she was going to take that horse out even in the sleet.
"Ahh," Jack shook his head. "I told her not to do that, but that kid. Tim, I'll go talk to her."
"Jack," Lisa put her hand on his arm and gave him a nod. "Tim's got it. You offered to help me with the soup. Let's go with that and get this family back to some peace and harmony. Can we do that?"
He sighed, nodding at her, with a small smile, "Yeah, we can. Let's get things back on track everyone."